Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-03-11

this country ana beyond tnlS country, !
which have made him distinguished
figure in the worlds history ever since he
began to exist. And now the question
arises has he done his work Is he going
to die out and give place to another
! type
past What distinguished him from 9th
ers There are good many elements
which make up the New England farmer.
He is an Independent landowner. This is
not the case in English history. The Eng
lish farmer is one who leases and tills
land The New England farmer is the
representative of select class that came
TO this country for intellectual, moral and
religious purposes. He came here, took
possession of the soil, and owns II. Noth-
ING more clearly establishes dignity, in
dependence and solidty of character than
the ownership of land. But the New Eng
land farmer5is a lahorer too. The indie
pendent landowner is himself a laborer
and it is the first instance in history where
this is so. The New England farmer
therefore dignifes labor.
The independent, labOring landowner
of New England has always been states
man. The history of the colonies is the
history of craftsmanship on the part of
these New England farmers. lie has al
ways been school commissioner. The
interests of education have been in his
hands He has always been church oil
Ger. He stands for the rights OF con
science, for free thought and free speech,
and for the right to educate his children
and the children of others. The question
arises. in view of these facts audathe
changes which are coming over New Eng
land can we spare this old-style, historic
New England farmer, and-an equally IN
terestiug uuestion-Can we spare his wife,
who in her place and sphere has done Just
as much for the moral, educational and
religious welfare of the community;
Is this class going to die out 1t will if
the New England farmer cannot maintain
the material conditions under which he
has always lived. The New England
farmer. unlike the peasant of Europe, has
always maintained himself in respect
able way, and in most important respects
he has been a gentleman and his wife has
been a lady. Unless they can maintain
the material conditions upon which this
character rests we must lose these homes
and these influences. Now 1t seems to be
the fear and conviction among large
number of farmers themselves that this
class will die out, because farming does
not pay If this is true, II farming does
no longer pay, then we must face that other
contingency, that this race is dying out.
do not know any more serious question
for one who loves his country than the
probabilities and possibilities of maintain.
ing in existence the old New England
farmer. must admit that, from certain
facts coming to my attention recently, the
outlook is rather discouraging. | recent
ly passed through some of the richest
farming sections of Addison county, and
saw large number of beautiful farms
under mort gage and for sale, at from so
to $50 an acre. But | find these facts diff
ticult to reconcile with some Others which
have come under my personal observa-
ton of farmers who have made money
and grown rich on their home acres. 1t
does not seem to me that melancholy
view under temporary dependency and
unfavorable circumstance ought to settle
this question So the practical ques-
ton comes to this: What are the
possibilities of New England farming
in the future Is there any hopeful out
look? What are the possibilities of so inn
proving and changing the old style of
farming as to make it advisable foryoung
men to stay at home on the farm There
are three or four lines Of possible i'm
provement which we would point out.
|. The saving of wastes. Scion Robin
son once said to me, "If you can get the
ears of the farmers of Vermont, there is
one thing want you to ding into them
save the waste" And these wastes he
defined under the following heads: Waste
: from poor tools waste from poor seed
, from raising poor animals ; from not util-
izing the liquids of the farm; from
bad roads causing waste in traction
from lack of drainage from the ravages
of insects, and by the failure to utilize
l other insects and animals
=, is from the discovery of new forms OF
agricultural enterprise. There was time
; when agriculture in England was in the
same depressed condition as 1t now is III
{ some parts of this country. In conse
4 quence of this certain new crops and pro
+ cesses were introduced. Nothing ever
+ made such a revolution in English agri-
culture as the introduction of the SWed
+ ish turnip. The same is true of the sugar
: beet in France. like revolution was the
Gha9a4r
{ III Vermont. These are but examples OF
; the possibilities of new enterprises in agri
u culture in New England.
u 3. Still another line of Improvement Is
u the opening of new markets. know o
! the case of two Vermont farmers who
II took a few sheep and TWO horses to South
:, America, and beside paying all the eX
+ penses of the long trip from the proceeds
u saved $1,000 apiece. One of our posslbill
} ties in New England is the talent we have
o shown in breeding and improving domes
t tic animals.
4. The last and best line of possible i'm
provement that | shall speak of is tn
&c contributions of science to agriculture
e Although there has been good deal o
u braggadocio among scientists about thel
> contributions TO agriculture, and so man
u of these contributions have proved decep
u tive, is not the greatest hope of agricultur
at the present time to he found in science
u Science has done but little yet for agricul
" ture-less than for any other art-but All
!, of the opinion that new era has com
e menced. Chemistry, botany, physiology
u entomology are all making large contrlbu
l. lions to agriculture. Chemistry especial
l, ly is trying to do what it cam and be
q lieve that there is great future in agr
u cultural chemistry.
J. The Hatch bill, it seems to me, ha
" come In answer to the demand OF tn
II farmers Scientific men have tried for
20 long time to obtain such legislation, bu
without success, until they persuaded tn
u farmers they needed It, OF course, tn
I, men of science are put upon their mettl
1s by this bill but do not think you wi
h make unreasonable demands of them.
E. would say, in closing, that am much dc
lie lighted and encouraged at the attendant
ne and interest which these lectures hav
re had. The college has tried TO do some
rs thing for the farmers, and the situatio
4d seems to me now more hopeful for NEE
ing your expectations. | hope you WI